As a pioneer in education reform, Breakthrough is more than an organization. We are a nationwide movement, tackling the achievement gap with a groundbreaking approach. Through our summer and school-year programs, we increase academic opportunity for highly motivated, underserved middle-and high school students, putting them on the path to college. We are also the largest pre-service teacher training program in the country, providing best-in-class pre-professional training for more than 1,000 undergraduate teaching fellows each year. We do this work across a collaborative network of 24 affiliates throughout the U.S. and in Hong Kong. Since the founding of our movement 38 years ago, we have served more than 40,000 students and teachers.
IS BREAKTHROUGH FOR ME?
Breakthrough is looking for hard-working undergraduates to join our classrooms this summer. We seek undergraduates from all academic backgrounds – both those planning careers in education and those who are considering it for the first time. Breakthrough teaching fellows have a deep commitment to social justice and passion for working with our inspiring middle-school students. Our teaching fellows must be committed to personal growth and comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
You’ll join a supportive community where you’ll receive extensive training, continuous support, and the opportunity to lead a classroom. Throughout the summer, you will assume leadership roles and practice persistence, creativity, flexibility, and problem-solving. Under the guidance of experienced educators, you will work alongside other exceptional teaching fellows to plan and teach classes, manage a classroom, advise students, lead field trips, and develop as a teacher and leader. Your summer at Breakthrough will help prepare you for a career in education and will grow professional skills that will help you stand apart in other professions.
As a teaching fellow, you will:
• Participate in a summer teaching and leadership experience with a living stipend provided
• Receive 100+ hours of teaching and leadership training
• Teach at one of our 24 affiliates throughout the U.S. and in Hong Kong
• Learn lesson planning, classroom management, instructional strategies, feedback techniques, and other essential teaching tools
• Teach core academic classes (math, science, writing, literature) and design enrichment classes (e.g., foreign language, dance, art)
• Lead family conferences and participate in team meetings
• Receive coaching from professional educators
• Collaborate with other exceptional undergraduate teaching fellows in a challenging but fun and supportive environment
• Work with a diverse group of highly motivated students from under-resourced communities
WHAT DOES BREAKTHROUGH DO?
Breakthrough students are working toward college but attend under-resourced schools. Our students dedicate their entire summers to learning in a rigorous, engaging, and supportive community. Research shows that students from lower-income backgrounds can lose up to two months of math and literacy skills over the summer, which, over time, negatively impacts their chances of attending college. At Breakthrough, our students make summer gains, leading to intellectual growth and contributing to their academic success. Nationally, 95% of Breakthrough students are of color; 81% qualify for free or reduced price lunch; and 70% will be the first in their families to graduate from four-year colleges.
WHAT IS THE TEACHING FELLOW COMMITMENT AND COMPENSATION?
As a teaching fellow, you will teach at one of 24 affiliates, which are located in cities across the country and in Hong Kong. Your summer will include the following:
• A nine-week teaching residency that includes two weeks of training, six weeks of classroom instruction, and one week of wrap-up and reflection.
• An intensive daily schedule, which often runs beyond normal business hours, five days a week and sometimes on weekends.
Breakthrough provides a living stipend during the residency. Stipend amounts and limited housing vary by affiliate and individual qualifications.
For a list of affiliates, including dates for each program, stipend amounts, and housing availability, please visit our site directory.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Breakthrough is designed for undergraduates of all majors. Education coursework is not a prerequisite; students from all majors and with all professional interests are encouraged to apply. To be eligible to apply, you must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply if they are authorized to work in the U.S.
Complete and submit the application by one of our application deadlines below. The application includes the following:
- Personal and contact information
- A resume including your extracurricular and work experiences
- Contact information for a recommender (whom we will contact; we do not accept letters of recommendation)
- An unofficial copy of your transcript
- Three short-answer questions
- Site and teaching-subject preferences
If you advance in the selection process, you may also be asked to submit a mock teaching video and participate in an interview.
For additional information about our sites, frequently asked questions, teaching fellow application and instructions, please visit our website.
Early Action Deadline: January 12, 2017
Regular Decision Deadline: February 23, 2017